Today I’ll write about a show that inspires me so much, and always has, to the point that I’m pretty sure it’ll be my favorite show for as long as I live. I have like 4 posters of it up on my wall, and it’s just something that I consider, among many other people, to be an amazingly well-crafted piece of art that really has something to offer anyone and everyone who gives it a chance. This show I’m referring to has recently become more popular than ever, with Netflix creating a successful live action version the beginning of it, and has even gone on to beat some records, such as those for most watched animated show, most watched anime show, as well as most read or bought comic book, if I remember correctly. That’s right, I’m talking about an anime show here, as well as a manga series, namely ‘One Piece’. To be honest, I’m not a huge anime fan in general, which is really a huge disappointment for me. It’s an especially huge disappointment because I thought I would eventually become a huge fan of anime, after having watched One Piece. It’s no one’s fault but my own, if I’m being totally honest. In reality, I do enjoy a good number of anime shows, from Dragon Ball to Death Note, to Ranma 1/2. The only problem is that my first exposure to anime was with One Piece, which absolutely blew my mind and made me seek out anything else that would be similar to it, since I felt like I just needed to continue the journey I had started with the Straw Hats. To this day I haven’t found any other anime show quite like it, none that can recreate that same feeling. After first watching it as a kid, I rewatched it for the second time as a teen, after I had started getting baked on the regular, and I would get baked, binge-watch One Piece all night, and just feel like I was super immersed in the story and everything that was going on, going through the ups and downs of the different characters along with them. There are so many cool characters in One Piece, and there as so many cool and unexpected connections between so many of them, since the story takes place in the very expansive world of pirates who are going on adventures all around the world, most of which are in search of ‘One Piece,’ the legendary treasure. Although everything I just mentioned is true, about how there are so many characters and how the interplay between them is pure gold, there is really one character that stands out from all the rest, if that is even possible, and it probably shouldn’t be much of a surprise that it’s the main character. Despite being a fictional character, Luffy has inspired me so much over the years. The way in which he is so sure of what he wants, almost in a totally stupid way, makes him able to withstand any obstacle with complete confidence, willing to do whatever is right without being intimidated, especially when it comes to standing up for the people he cares about. One Piece is full of these kinds of amazing characters with such heartfelt stories. Corazon, Señor Pink, Laboon, the little toy soldier whose name I don’t remember at the moment, all come to mind just to name a few, but I could really go on and on forever. When I first met my wife she hadn’t watched One Piece, but she was aware of it because she would see her brother Luis watching it from time to time. I told her about it and ever since we watched it together it’s become her favorite show as well. I’m kind of embarrassed (not really) to admit that we’ve watched it three times up to different episodes, wherever the series was at the time that we finished. We are now in the process of watching it for the fourth time, with my mom, who, even though swore she didn’t like anime, is now invested in the story after being persuaded by us to give it a chance. One complaint some people have about One Piece is that it’s too long, and indeed it is still ongoing although it’s already past the thousand-episode mark. For me though, I don’t mind at all, and I would be fine with the journey going on for as long as possible… as long as it ends before I die, I guess. I mean, I do want to know how it will end after investing so much time into it! Anyway, if you want to watch a piece of art that will blow you away and fill you with all kinds of emotions and inspiration, don’t be intimidated by the episode count and go ahead and give it a shot! I can pretty much guarantee you won’t regret it.
If you have a few minutes, listen to my song ‘somewhere out there.’ I appreciate you!
rebel eye 